The Coming Evangelical Collapse?
There’s a fascinating article floating around the internet written by the “Internet Monk”, Michael Spencer. The article is entitled “The Coming Evangelical Collapse” that you can read HERE. Spencer argues that evangelicalisms marriage to conservative politics will earn it scorn, derision, and ostracism to the point of persectution. I must admit, this article has had me thinking all day about the ministry of the gospel in the times in which we live. Are we manifesting the gospel in the way we should? Are we equipping our children and youth to articulate and defend the gospel?
I think Sean Lucas, Church History Prof at Covenant Seminary offers a very helpful response you can access HERE. Any thoughts on Spencer’s assertions? What is the future of evangelicalism? How should the church prepare and/or respond?
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3 Responses to “The Coming Evangelical Collapse?”
March 11th, 2009 at 9:56 am
I think that the reporter has a slight bit of an extreme view of what may occur. He’s partially right, however, and I think what we may see is either an abandonment of some evangelical passions or a run to study and solidify in doctrine.
I wonder if the faddishness of the megachurch will go away, or if we’ll see some sort of “evolution” of it. The current economic times are going to present a serious challenge to some preachers who don’t give solid answers. The Church somewhat failed - our glaring weaknesses were revealed in the months following 9/11 - and one wonders if we really learned how to deal with the worst times.
What I DO think is that we’ll see a sort of combination of ecuminical evangelical thought arise out of gen-xers who paid attention in Sunday School and DID grow to lead, taking the more practical and possibly combining it with some sound doctrine that doesn’t necessarily care about fringe issues - as long as the Gospel is preached. We’re seeing it some now. We may see less of a divide among the more conservative elements of Christianity (particularly as the “old guard” of the SBC dies off), and a widening gap between them (us?) and the more left-leaning groups.
The best point, though, is the notion that it will be Africa and Asia who will be sending out the missionaries to America (and possibly Europe). Such an infusion of “fresh” Christianity from different perspectives would be most welcome, in my mind. Give me the Gospel from people who really know how it’s supposed to be spread, who break it down to what it’s supposed to be about.
March 11th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Ryan,
Good points, all. I too wonder if the mega-church, with its large appeal to the boomer generation, will wane. I found the article a bit apocalyptic but at the same time causing some much needed self evaluation.
March 11th, 2009 at 11:13 pm
I think Christians need to first acknowledge that we are living in a Post-Christian Culture. The mega churches are already on their way out and although new movements, such as the emerging church, are developing, I believe we are seeing a vast decline in Christianity. In an attempt to make itself “relevant,” modern evangelicalism has made itself irrelevant. This seems to be replaced by a general spiritualism among the masses. I think the author is partly correct. Evangelicalism is experiencing a harsh backlash for its failed attempts to establish the Kingdom of God in through secular means, e.g. The Moral Majority, The Christian Coalition, etc. It’s a case of kingdom confusion stemming from an over realized eschatology.
What is the future for the church in America? Perhaps we are entering a time of persecution and purification. The need to preach the law and the gospel clearly and unapologetically is perhaps never been needed more since the Reformation. The lines between the world and the church need to be clearly established. Whatever the future holds, we can be assured that God will preserve His church, albeit perhaps only a remnant, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her.
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